Shelter dogs around the world are ending up in laboratories

You can help save them

Our latest investigation has found evidence of every dog lover’s worst nightmare.

Lost, stray and abandoned dogs who’ve ended up in government-run shelters in Brazil are being handed over to universities for use in experiments. And many of these poor animals are also being supplied to veterinary schools for student teaching classes.

Sadly, we know it isn’t just happening in Brazil:

Our researchers have found evidence that stray and shelter dogs, or those labelled as ‘random source’, can still be used in experiments in the USA, Canada and Australia.

We’ve heard shocking accounts that around the word, stray dogs are being deliberately harmed or killed for education purposes, including for students to develop and practice their surgical skills at human and veterinary medical schools.

In some parts of the USA and Canada, local laws actually allow laboratories to buy unclaimed dogs from animal shelters for use in painful experiments.

A host of celebrities are lending their voices to our new campaign, including Eric McCormack, Danny Trejo, Seth Gilliam, Lou Diamond Phillips and Vanessa-Mae.

Together, we can end this global scandal.

Treating dogs as disposable commodities and viewing them simply as teaching tools with no regard for their lives is morally wrong. But we believe it’s also scientifically and educationally unnecessary. There are many viable alternatives to using dogs in teaching, and many schools around the world are successfully using a combination of simulations, models and actual animal patients instead.

The European Union has all but banned the use of stray dogs in experiments, and our work has helped to ensure this cruel practice is a thing of the past in many countries. Together, we can persuade other governments to follow their lead.

“Dogs belong in loving homes not laboratories. Please join me in supporting the Cruelty Free International campaign to end the use of dogs in cruel experiments across the world.” - Anna Paquin

“The thought of stray and lost dogs ending up in laboratories is every dog lover’s worst nightmare. Please join me and Gryffindor in helping Cruelty Free International end the use of shelter dogs in cruel experiments in the US and around the world.” - Seth Gilliam with Gryffindor

“I am delighted to support Cruelty Free International with the launch of its global campaign to raise awareness of the use of stray and shelter dogs in experiments. It is unacceptable for dogs to still be suffering in laboratories and the time is right for this important issue to be placed on the public and political agenda in countries around the world.” – Leona Lewis

"Dogs in animal shelters should be adopted into loving homes not used in laboratory experiments. Please join me in supporting the Cruelty Free International campaign to end the use of dogs in cruel experiments around the world." – Danny Trejo with John Wesley

“I hope that dog lovers around the world will support the Cruelty Free International global campaign to end the use of dogs in outdated and cruel experiments.” - Eric McCormack with Penny

"Like many others, I was surprised to learn that dogs are used in experiments in laboratories around the world including in the US and Canada. I can’t imagine my dog Kitzel being forced to live in a laboratory. That’s why I’m supporting the Cruelty Free International global campaign to save dogs from painful experiments.” - Lou Diamond Phillips with Kitzel

“Please join me and Max in supporting Cruelty Free International with the launch of its global campaign to end the use of stray and shelter dogs in experiments. This is an issue that needs to be placed on the public and political agenda. Together we can make a difference.” - Vanessa-Mae with Max

“I am pleased to support Cruelty Free International with its global campaign to end the use of stray and shelter dogs in experiments. My rescue dog Stella is such a wonderful companion and has brought so much joy into my life. It is time we reached out globally and put an end to the cruel and outdated use of dogs in experiments once and for all.” – Kate Nash & Stella

" A combination of simulations, models and actual animal patients have replaced harmful and lethal use of shelter dogs in training programs and experiments. I support the Cruelty Free International campaign to replace the cruel and unnecessary use of shelter dogs with humane alternatives around the world.” - Cat Greenleaf